Strawberry plant named ‘inspire’

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘INSPIRE’. This new strawberry plant named ‘INSPIRE’ is primarily adapted to the growing conditions of the central coast of California, and is primarily characterized by its orange red fruit color; very firm fruit flesh; very smooth, even fruit surface, with very little difference in shape between primary and secondary fruit; medium fruit size that is much longer than broad; excellent fruit flavor; and medium plant size.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry varietynamed ‘INSPIRE’. This new variety is a result of a controlled cross madein 2009 in an ongoing breeding program between strawberry varietydesignated ‘BG-1975’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725) as the seed (female)parent, and strawberry variety designated ‘Primori’ as the pollen (male)parent. The variety is botanically known as Fragaria ananassa.

The seedling resulting from the aforementioned cross was selected from acontrolled breeding plot in Ventura County, Calif. in the winter of2011. After its selection, the new variety was asexually propagated bystolons in both Siskiyou County, Calif. and San Joaquin County, Calif.The new variety was extensively tested over the next several years infruiting fields in Ventura County, Calif. This propagation hasdemonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein ascharacterizing the new variety are fixed and remain true-to-type throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘INSPIRE’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions ofthe central coast of California. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides thehumidity and moderate temperatures needed to produce a strong, vigorousplant and maintain fruit quality during the winter and spring productionmonths.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘INSPIRE’, which in combination distinguishthis strawberry plant as a new and distinct variety:

-   -   1. Orange red fruit color;    -   2. Very firm fruit flesh;    -   3. Very smooth, even fruit surface, with very little difference        in shape between primary and secondary fruit;    -   4. Medium fruit size that is much longer than broad;    -   5. Excellent fruit flavor; and    -   6. Medium plant size.

The strawberry variety that is believed to be most closely related tothe new variety ‘INSPIRE’ is ‘BG-959’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,864). Inside-by-side comparisons to the similar strawberry variety ‘BG-959’,‘INSPIRE’ differs by the following combination of characteristics asdescribed in Table 1.

TABLE 1 ‘BG-959’ (U.S. Plant Pat. Characteristic ‘INSPIRE’ No. 17,864)Fruit: color Orange red Red Fruit: firmness of flesh Very firm FirmFruit: expression of hollow center Weak Strong Fruit: difference betweenprimary None or very Moderate and secondary slight Fruit: flavorExcellent Good Plant: size Medium Small Terminal leaf: shape of baseAcute Obtuse Foliage: color Medium Ranges from medium green to darkgreen Stipule: anthocyanin intensity Absent or Strong very weak Flowers:position relative Above Level with to foliage

For identification, a series of molecular markers have been determinedfor this new variety.

‘INSPIRE’ differs from its parents, ‘BG-1975’ and ‘Primori’ by thefollowing combination of characteristics as described in Tables 2 and 3.

TABLE 2 ‘BG-1975’ (U.S. Characteristic ‘INSPIRE’ Plant Pat. No. 17,725)Fruit: color Orange red Orange Fruit: firmness of flesh Very firm FirmFruit: shape Conical (much longer Conical (slightly than broad) longerthan broad) Fruit: insertion of Level with the Below the surface achenessurface Marketable yield Ranges from Medium medium to low

TABLE 3 Characteristic ‘INSPIRE’ ‘Primori’ Fruit: size Medium Rangesfrom medium to small Fruit: glossiness Strong Medium Fruit: attitude ofsepals Ranges from outward Outward to upward Fruit: flavor ExcellentGood

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance oftypical specimens of the new strawberry variety ‘INSPIRE’ at variousstages of development, as true as it is reasonably possible with colorreproductions of this type. Color in the photographs may differ slightlyfrom the color value cited in the botanical descriptions whichaccurately describe the color of ‘INSPIRE’. The depicted plant and plantparts of the new strawberry variety ‘INSPIRE’ are approximately sixmonths old. The photographs were taken in Ventura County, Calif.

FIG. 1 shows typical fruiting field characteristics of ‘INSPIRE’, takenin the month of March;

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of a typical plant of ‘INSPIRE’, taken inthe month of March;

FIG. 3 shows typical mature and immature field fruit of ‘INSPIRE’, takenin the month of March; and

FIG. 4 shows typical internal and external mature fruit characteristicsof ‘INSPIRE’, taken in the month of March.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new variety ‘INSPIRE’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The characteristics of the new variety‘INSPIRE’ may vary in detail, depending upon variations in environmentalfactors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity),day length, soil type and location. In addition, the characteristics ofany parental variety or comparison variety included in Tables 1, 2 and 3of the present invention may vary in detail, depending upon variationsin environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity andlight intensity), day length, soil type and location.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following descriptionof the new variety ‘INSPIRE’, unless otherwise noted, are based onobservations taken during the 2017 growing season in Ventura County,Calif. These measurements and ratings were taken from plants of‘INSPIRE’ dug from a high-elevation nursery located in Siskiyou County,Calif. during early October 2016 and planted approximately four to fivedays later in Ventura County, Calif. The approximate age of the observedplants is six months. Yield observations including average weight andmarketable yield, along with fruit quality characteristics includingsoluble solids, are averaged from four years of data collected from the2014 through 2017 growing seasons. Flower measurements andcharacteristics are from secondary flowers unless otherwise noted. Fruitcharacteristics and measurements are from secondary fruit, unlessotherwise noted.

Where noted, color terminology follows The Royal Horticultural SocietyColour Chart, London (2007).

The following characteristics describe fruit, plant, stolon, foliage,fruiting truss, flower, reproductive organs and pest and diseasecharacteristics of the new strawberry ‘INSPIRE’.

-   Fruit characteristics:    -   -   Color of mature fruit.—RHS N34B (orange red).        -   Color of internal flesh (excluding core).—RHS 34C (light            red).        -   Color of core.—RHS 39B (ranges from light red to medium            red).        -   Average length (cm).—4.7.        -   Average width (cm).—3.7.        -   Size.—Medium.        -   Average length/width ratio.—1.26 (much longer than broad).        -   Average calyx diameter (cm).—5.2.        -   Season average weight (gm).—26.0.        -   Achene color, shaded side.—RHS 153A (yellow green group).        -   Achene color, sun-exposed side.—RHS 184A (greyed purple            group).        -   Average achene weight (mg).—0.52.        -   Average achenes per berry.—354.        -   Season marketable yield (gm/plant).—866.        -   Predominant shape.—Conical.        -   Difference in shape between primary and secondary            fruit.—None or very slight.        -   Band without achenes.—Narrow.        -   Evenness of surface.—Even or very slightly uneven.        -   Evenness of color.—Even or very slightly uneven.        -   Glossiness.—Strong.        -   Insertion of achenes.—Level with surface.        -   Position of calyx attachment.—Inserted.        -   Attitude of sepals.—Ranges from outward to upward.        -   Size of calyx in relation to fruit diameter.—Ranges from            slightly larger to much larger.        -   Adherence of calyx (when fully ripe).—Strong.        -   Firmness of flesh.—Ranges from firm to very firm.        -   Distribution of red color of the flesh.—Marginal and            central.        -   Hollow center expression.—Weak.        -   Flavor.—Excellent.        -   Soluble solids (% Brix).—8.3.        -   Time of first flowering.—Medium (Mid-December in Ventura            County, Calif.).        -   Time of first fruit.—Medium (Mid-January in Ventura County,            Calif.).        -   Harvest period.—January to May (in Ventura County, Calif.).        -   Harvest maturity.—Mid-season (March).        -   Type of bearing.—Not remontant.-   Plant characteristics:    -   -   Average height (cm).—16.9.        -   Average spread (cm).—30.3.        -   Size.—Medium.        -   Habit.—Upright.        -   Density.—Medium.        -   Vigor.—Medium.-   Stolon characteristics:    -   -   Color.—RHS 146C (yellow green group).        -   Anthocyanin coloration.—RHS 181B (greyed red group).        -   Anthocyanin intensity.—Medium.        -   Pubescence.—Medium.        -   Attitude of hairs.—Upward.        -   Average quantity in nursery (per square foot).—5 to 6            (medium).        -   Average diameter at the bract (mm).—2.9 (ranges from thin to            medium).-   Terminal leaflet characteristics:    -   -   Average length (cm).—6.2.        -   Average width (cm).—5.4.        -   Average length/width ratio.—1.15 (longer than broad).        -   Shape of base.—Acute.        -   Margins (shape of teeth).—Obtuse (serrate to crenate).        -   Average serrations per leaf.—21.9.-   Foliage characteristics:    -   -   Color of upper surface.—RHS 137A (medium green).        -   Color of underside.—RHS 147B (yellow green group).        -   Number of leaflets.—3.        -   Leaf size.—Medium.        -   Average length (cm).—11.7.        -   Average width (cm).—10.0.        -   Average area foliage (cm ²).—116.8.        -   Shape in cross section.—Flat to slightly convex.        -   Interveinal blistering.—Medium.        -   Leaf glossiness.—Medium.        -   Leaf variegation.—Absent.-   Petiole characteristics:    -   -   Petiole color.—RHS 144A (yellow green group).        -   Average length (cm).—10.2.        -   Average diameter (mm).—3.1.        -   Petiolule color.—RHS 144A (yellow green group).        -   Petiolule average length (mm).—7.8.        -   Attitude of hairs.—Strongly outward.        -   Pubescence.—Moderate.-   Stipule characteristics:    -   -   Color.—RHS 146C (yellow green group).        -   Anthocyanin coloration.—RHS 56B (red group).        -   Anthocyanin intensity.—Absent or very weak.        -   Average length (mm).—17.2.        -   Average width (mm).—9.9.-   Fruiting truss characteristics:    -   -   Anthocyanin coloration.—RHS 181C (greyed red group).        -   Anthocyanin intensity.—Medium.        -   Average length at maturity (cm).—24.0.        -   Position relative to foliage.—Above.        -   Flower quantity (average per plant).—40 to 50 (medium).        -   Pedicel attitude of hairs.—Upward.        -   Pubescence.—Weak.        -   Attitude at first pick.—Prostrate.-   Flower characteristics:    -   -   Petal color.—RHS NN155C (white group).        -   Sepal color.—RHS 137B (green group).        -   Corolla (flower) average diameter (mm).—27.3 (medium).        -   Calyx average diameter (mm).—34.5.        -   Petal average length (mm).—10.8.        -   Petal average width (mm).—9.8.        -   Petal average length/width ratio.—1.11 (longer than broad).        -   Average petals per flower.—5.8.        -   Sepal average length (mm).—13.8.        -   Sepal average width (mm).—4.6.        -   Sepal average length/width ratio.—2.99.        -   Average sepals per flower.—11.6.        -   Size of calyx relative to corolla.—Larger.        -   Size of inner calyx relative to outer calyx.—Smaller.        -   Relative position of petals (flowers with 5 or 6            petals).—Ranges from touching to overlapping.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Receptacle color.—RHS 147C (yellow green group).        -   Pollen color.—RHS 14A (yellow orange group).        -   Stamen.—Present.        -   Pollen amount.—Abundant.-   Disease and pest reactions:    -   -   Powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca macularis).—Moderately            resistant.        -   Angular leaf spot (Xanthomonas fragariae).—Moderately            resistant.        -   Botrytis fruit rot (Botrytis cinerea).—Moderately            susceptible.        -   Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum).—Susceptible.        -   Anthracnose crown rot (Colletotrichum            fragariae).—Susceptible.        -   Two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae).—Moderately            susceptible.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct strawberry plant named ‘INSPIRE’, asherein described and illustrated by the characteristics set forth above.